Filipino Crockpot Chicken Afritada just might be the answer for folks who love fuss-free dinners that still have that home-cooked flavor. Ever find yourself staring at your fridge around 4 pm, realizing you forgot to defrost something again? Happens here more than I care to admit. When time’s tight (and energy is even tighter), dumping a pile of simple ingredients into a slow cooker feels like winning the lottery. No standing by the stove. No juggling pots. You can just toss, set, wander off, then come back to a five-star restaurant smell in your kitchen. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how easy this Filipino tomato chicken stew is going to make your evening.

Ingredients

You’ll love how regular these ingredients are. Most are probably already lurking in your fridge or pantry. If not, they’re hardly expensive. Pro tip: fresh tomatoes are awesome, but canned works fine if you’re running on empty evening energy.

2 pounds of chicken thighs, bone-in or boneless (I use whatever’s on sale. No shame.)
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chunked
1 large carrot, thick-sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chunky
1 green bell pepper, the same way
1 onion, rough-chopped
4 cloves garlic, smashed
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 cup chicken broth or water
2 tablespoons fish sauce (trust me)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar (for magic)
Black pepper and salt, to taste
1 bay leaf
Optional: green peas (frozen is fine), fried plantains on the side

Directions

Okay, here’s how laughably easy this is.

Dump all your cut-up veggies and garlic into the bottom of your slow cooker.
Toss the chicken pieces on top.
Pour in the tomato sauce. Splash in the chicken broth, fish sauce, and soy sauce.
Add your sugar, a sprinkle of black pepper, a whisper of salt, and the bay leaf.
Give it all a gentle stir — not too wild, you don’t want the potatoes to mush out.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours. HIGH works too, just halve the time.
About 40 minutes before serving, stir in the bell peppers and any green peas (these get sad and soggy if added too early).
Fish out the bay leaf. Taste. More salt? More kick? Fix it up how you like.

That’s it. Go watch a show, do your laundry (or not), dinner’s taking care of itself.

“Honestly, I put this together before work one morning and came home to the coziest dinner ever. Could not believe how much flavor came out with so little effort!” — Jean, New Jersey

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Let’s break it down quick since nobody wants to scroll forever.

Chock-full of veggies and lean protein, this meal’s honestly not bad for you. A hearty scoop (about 1.5 cups) has:

Calories: 340
Protein: 27g
Carbs: 27g
Fat: 11g
Sugar: 6g
Fiber: 5g
Sodium: will vary, watch the soy/fish sauce if that’s a concern

Pretty cozy for something that tastes so rich. And if you’re watching certain nutrients, you can always swap potatoes for more veggies or use chicken breast. Just keep it low and slow for max tenderness.

Cooking Tips for Perfect Afritada

Alright, there’s a fine line between hearty stew and veggie mush. After several semi-fails, I picked up a few tricks. Always add your bell peppers and peas at the end. Give the potatoes and carrots a good, chunky cut so they don’t dissolve into oblivion. Taste as you go if you can, but don’t lift that lid too much or you’ll mess with the magic.

Want to know something else? Browning the chicken first is totally optional. If you’ve got five extra minutes, sure — it looks nicer. But honestly, for Crockpot Chicken Afritada, skipping it saves dishes and keeps things simple. Taste stays solid either way.

Something I tell everyone: don’t pile in heaps of salt off the bat. The sauces add plenty, and it’s way easier to fix things up at the end than get stuck eating a salt bomb. If you want even more tips, check out this classic chicken afritada Filipino tomato stew with bell peppers recipe on my foodie friend’s site for comparison.

Variations of Chicken Afritada

So here’s where you can have a little fun, honestly. You don’t have to stick with tradition every time.

Chicken is awesome, but I’ve swapped in pork chunks (oh yes) or done a vegetarian riff with chickpeas for my meat-free cousin. Sweet potatoes work just as well as regular spuds, and sometimes I add extra carrots — makes it look like I’m sneaking in more nutrients for the fam.

Pinch of smoked paprika? Sure. Or toss in a spicy chili if you want heat. I even saw someone make a version with coconut milk, and it was…an adventure.

Craving a silky, rich sauce? Add a little cream at the end. Mess around and find your own “house special” version.

Common Questions

Q: Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?
Absolutely, just try not to overcook it so it stays moist.

Q: Do I have to brown the chicken first?
Nope! Some folks say yes, but honestly, flavor’s great either way and it’s less mess added.

Q: What’s the best way to store leftovers?
Stick ’em in a tight container in the fridge, good for three days. Tastes even better the next day.

Q: Is fish sauce a must?
For authentic taste, yes. But if you really can’t stand it, just use extra soy sauce.

Q: Can I freeze Crockpot Chicken Afritada?
You bet. Let it cool, pop it in the freezer. Just leave out anything like potatoes if you’re picky about texture after thawing.

Bringing It All Together: A Simple Weeknight Hero

This Crockpot Chicken Afritada recipe fits right into any weeknight. Just dump, set, and forget — it’s the slow cooker’s greatest trick. If you want more ideas for Filipino stews, check out this Easy Chicken Afritada Recipe Filipino tomato stew or dive into classic comfort dishes like arroz caldo. Also, try exploring the official Slow Cooker Chicken Afritada Recipe for extra pointers or some twists from other cooks. Stuck in a dinner rut? Scroll through Chicken Afritada in the Crock Pot! I’m on a crock pot roll lately … for ideas. Or for a homey, classic version, there’s always The best easy Chicken Afritada Recipe – Foxy Folksy Pinoy Recipes. Trust me, once you try making this, your slow cooker’s going to earn a forever spot on the counter.

Give it a go. This Filipino Crockpot Chicken Afritada might become your next family favorite — or at least finally solve your “what’s for dinner” headache.

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